Safe driving tips

• Leave sufficient space between yourself and the car in front of you. • Look at what’s ahead 12 seconds down the road, paying attention to landmarks. • Watch out for other motorists and be careful around distracted drivers. • Don’t be a distracted driver yourself. Avoid fiddling with electronic gadgets and pull over to reprogram GPS when needed. • Let your right-front passenger help with directions and traffic. • Scan rearview mirrors every seven seconds. If you see a line of cars forming behind you, pull off where it is safe and let them pass. • Avoid driving at times when traffic is dense. • Take a defensive driving refresher course from AAA, AARP, Mid-Ohio School or other reputable business or organization. Todd Snyder, chief instructor, Mid-Ohio School, affiliated with the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Most older Americans still have a driver’s license, according to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Aging. Eighty-eight percent of Americans older than 65 still drive, as do 69 percent of those age 75 and older.

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, nearly 13 percent of drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents in 2012, the most recent year for which statistics were available, were older than 65. More than 17 percent of the drivers killed that year also were in the older age group.

What can older drivers do to be safer? Experts in gerontology, the study of aging and the problems of the aged, say watching out for signs of problems, along with refresher courses in driving skills, will go a long way to keeping older drivers independently mobile.

“There’s a misconception that older drivers are bad drivers. There are bad drivers at any age,” says Marc Molea, chief of strategic partnerships for the Ohio Department of Aging. “What older drivers lack in physical skills, they make up for in experience.”

Molea said one thing seniors can do for their own safety is to keep up with driving trends. Avoid situations that could create road rage in impatient drivers and watch out for distracted drivers who are eating, drinking, talking on their cellphones and particularly those who are texting, which he says puts everyone in jeopardy.

Molea suggests older drivers also become familiar with all the features if they drive newer model cars. He said most fit-driver programs now focus on what he described as “new electronic gadgetry” in cars.

“When I started driving, there were only a few buttons on the dashboard,” Molea said. “Now there are what seem like hundreds of them, so it’s important all drivers, older or younger, know what to do.”

Drivers of all ages can improve road awareness by taking a refresher driving course. Programs tailored for older drivers are available through organizations such as the American Automobile Association and the American Association of Retired Persons.

The Mid-Ohio School, which is part of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, offers a variety of instruction programs, from defensive driving for teens and adults to high performance driving and racing for adults and enthusiasts. Todd Snyder, chief instructor, said defensive driving techniques, such as maintaining proper lead time and watching your rear view mirrors are important for all ages of drivers.

“A common theme in everyday driving is that we forget to look far enough ahead,” Snyder said. “Look at the cars in front of you and landmarks down the road for a lead time of around 12 seconds.”

Snyder also recommended scanning rear view mirrors every seven seconds to see what is coming up behind. If you are a slower driver and see a line of cars behind you, he suggested pulling over and letting them pass if it is safe to do so.

Driving distractions become more of an issue as reaction times slow with age. Although older drivers are less likely to be caught up in using cellphones and texting while driving, Snyder says they’re more likely to be involved with GPS systems that provide driving directions.

“You don’t want to be programming them while driving,” he said. “Your right front passenger can help with directions and traffic.” Snyder also recommended a limit for the number of people in the car to reduce possible distractions. Avoid driving during busy times of the day and in high density traffic situations.

Even though we hate to admit it, the physical changes that come with aging eventually catch up with us and affect our driving. Reaction times are slower, muscle strength changes and we develop chronic conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s’ Disease, the effects of stroke and even initial signs of dementia.

“One of the biggest things people think about is vision — problems caused by cataracts, diabetes and stroke,” said Dr. Donald Mack, a geriatric specialist in the Department of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Physical disabilities often make it difficult to steer and reduce reaction times.”

One of the biggest driving concerns is the use of sedatives such as valium, Zanex and other sleeping aids as well as narcotics for pain — all of which can affect drivers old and young. Mack points out that any medicine that carries a warning it may cause drowsiness is a concern for drivers.

“Older drivers may have last taken a medicine when they were younger and a reaction may be more pronounced as they get older,” Mack warned. “It not only can affect driving, but also things like climbing a ladder and other activities where there is risk.”

Also, cardiac conditions can cause light headedness and fainting, as will diabetes if blood sugar levels get too low.

Mack said it can be difficult to determine when a person should restrict driving or even give up the keys altogether; Ohio law provides no clear guidance. While the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles does vision screening at license renewal time, it does not test for reaction time or even determine if a driver has difficulty getting in and out of a car.

BMV spokesman Tim Fisher said the agency can revoke or suspend a drivers’ license for a number of physical reasons, including vision, physical and psychiatric problems. Law enforcement officers can observe a driving problem and require a driver to be retested or a family member can file written concerns with the bureau, which will send an investigator.

The process also includes a form for the driver’s physician to fill out and a hearing if it is determined that driving should be medically restricted.

“If a family member is concerned about a medical impairment it’s probably best to go to a doctor first because they can get things done quicker,” Fisher said. “Whatever the process, the goal of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is to keep people safe.”

An older driver often will resist giving up driving privileges because it means a loss of independence.

Mack said doctors can order tests to determine if someone has the strength or attention span to continue driving, which provides a good objective tool and does not put the family in the position of taking a family member’s license. In the case of an accident, he said most insurance companies require a doctor to fill out a mandatory health form and will not insure an older driver if there is a problem.

Seniors who no longer drive often rely on neighbors, friends and family for transportation. Linda Gillespie, Aging and Resource Division director for the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging in Columbus, which serves eight counties, said that can be a problem for the providers.

“Many families and caregivers are still working and can’t get off work,” Gillespie said. “Those who take off can be at risk of losing their job and hesitate to be the person who always takes someone to the doctor.”

Depending on a person’s financial means, seniors can pay for a taxi ride, ride public transportation, use services provided by social service agencies or rely on friends, relatives and neighbors. Bus service is available in Columbus, Lancaster and Newark.

Dianne Ramey, chief of long-term care for the District 5 Area Agency on Aging based in Ontario, said all nine counties in the agency’s service area either have bus service or transportation coordinated by Councils on Aging or senior centers. The Richland County Transit system provides fixed-route, dial-a-ride and special services in Mansfield.

Ramey said anyone in District 5 who needs help finding transportation can call the office at 800-522-5680. “We can give you all the options and help you decide what is best,” she said, adding that senior centers, Job and Family Services and Developmental Disability agencies often collaborate on transportation.

Residents of most counties also can call 211 information and referral services provided through United Way or other social service agencies to find out about a variety of senior-related and other services in their area.